Avoiding Food Jags

In my clinical experience of working with families
who have toddlers, I see parents struggle with encouraging their kids to try
new foods. It’s easy for parents to get into a rut of serving the same foods.
And it’s even easier for toddlers to join them in the rut by refusing to eat
anything outside of their preferred meals. This can create what is called a
‘food jag,’ which is a vicious cycle that decreases your child’s willingness to
try new foods. If you feel like your little one only eats a select list of
foods, use some of my feeding tips to help you break the food jag cycle!

Offer new foods early: Start offering baby new tastes
and textures early so when he/she becomes a toddler there are more food flavors
and options to choose from. I like to use the ezpz Mini Play Mat, which is an
all-in-one mat + flower petal compartments that is perfect for exposinghesitant eaters to
a variety of foods! Here are a few feeding and early intervention ideas using
the Mini Play Mat:

Colors:
Offer a variety of food in five colors (there are five petal compartments on
the mat to make this simple and quick) and then add a dip (yogurt, ranch
dressing, peanut butter, etc.) in the middle.

Textures:
Try exposing your toddler to an assortment of textures. Does your child like crunchy textures?
Then try carrots, baked snap peas, crackers, cereal or crushed nuts. Does your
child avoid gummy textures? Have your child explore a variety of gummy textures
during snack time, like vitamin gummy bears, raisins or fruit roll ups. Having some texture experiments can be a fun way to help your child
expand their food repertoire!

Dips: Let’s
face it, kids will eat more if we provide them with dips like ranch dressing or
ketchup. So, I like to use these condiments sparingly with other foods while
allowing them to indulge when introducing new foods.

Try food crafts: Exposing toddlers to new
foods through craft projects are a perfect way to calm anxiety and prevent food
jags. Edible crafts can help prepare a kiddo for what you are serving for
dinner and foster an enjoyment for new tastes!

Play: Want to change up their mac
& cheese to a different type of pasta?
Try painting the new pasta, sorting and counting it, or making pasta
necklaces. These play activities expose children to new foods
by crafting instead of eating, which helps them gain familiarity with the foods
(and increases the likelihood that they will eat it!).

Fine Motor: The dimensions of the Mini
Play Mat’s compartments are perfect for improving your toddler’s pincer
grip and fine motor skills. The high lip of the mat captures water, pasta and
other edible materials. It can also hold non-food crafting materials like
markers, washi tape and stickers to make snack-bag crafts your kids would love to eat
out of!

Promote their independence: Do you know that kids are more
likely to eat meals and snacks they help make? Here are a few ideas to help
promote your child’s independence and ward off food jags!

Build: Kids love to help make
meals, especially if they can control what goes in it! Use the Mini Play Mat to
set up a sundae bar, taco station or sweet potato bar. This will give your child some power
around mealtime, which sets the groundwork for adventurous eating.

Snacks: If you teach your kids to help
make their own snacks, it nurtures their self-help skills and increases the likelihood
of them eating a healthy snack! These culinary activities can inspire them to
make different choices, learn about new tastes, and discover a ratio of
ingredients that will please their palate. Give my 5 Ingredient Trail Mix
Formula a try for an
easy recipe with your kids!

Whether
your child just started food jagging or has been refusing new food for years, I
hope these tips help improve mealtime. Let us know how you have to prevented
food jags. #ezpzfun #miniplaymat

Photo Credit: Paul Joyner Photo

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Dawn Winkelmann, M.S, CCC-SLP

Speech Language Pathologist & Feeding Specialist for ezpz

Dawn Winkelmann, a.k.a “Ms. Dawn”, has treated thousands of kids across the globe by helping families overcome picky eating stages and food refusals, while adding new foods into their diet. Her high success rate is attributed to Ms. Dawn bringing her education, experience, sense of humor and her favorite feeding products to the family dinner table.

You will find Ms. Dawn’s expert feeding advice to be positive and fun for the entire family! She adapts complicated feeding/swallowing research and makes it practical and easy for parents! Get ready to learn the science behind your favorite feeding products and ways to bring happy family mealtimes back!